Chapter 50 Mischief

It was the third and last day of their stay. The transport would leave at 4 pm. They had happily spent more time in each other's arms than enjoying the entertainments of the ranch. They decided for the last day they would go to the carnival. They had a quick breakfast and went.

It was a lovely little country fair. There were midway rides and pie eating competitions, a row of games of skill and chance. The Time Lord got to show off his depth perception skills by tossing three rings onto a post to win Rose a blue teddy bear.

They got separated in the glass house. Rose had giggled and ran ahead. It was maddening for him to see her but not touch her. Their bodies pressed against the glass. Desire in their eyes. He nearly broke it to reach her.

There was not enough time in the tunnel of love for a good snogging, and he tipped the operator to slow the ride down for another go, or two.

Your standard carnival food everywhere. He and Rose split a large sausage with the works, grilled peppers and onions with mustard. Then fresh lemonade, and fried chips and mushrooms. They sat on a bench in the park finishing off their elephant ear cakes. Listening to the sounds of merriment coming from the carnival. It was a lovely day, but it was time to go back to the room and pack.

Rose couldn't wait to give the teddy bear to Alice. She had called a few times to check on her. Louise said everything was fine and to have a good time. Alice was just past seven years old and had become quite a handful. She had a stubborn streak a mile long and was testing her limits every chance she could. It was all part of growing up and Rose was sad to see it come. When they are little they cling to you, but the older they get the more they push you away.

Alice was pushing hard and using her advanced intellect to a point where she was intimidating Rose with her perfect logic. She was having to rely on phrases like, Because I'm your mother and Because I said so. But most effective of all was I'm going to tell your father. It had been getting worse the more time he spent away. As if Alice was acting out in frustration over missing her father. They had created a close bond. He was father, teacher, hero, and she adored him, until it suddenly stopped with his responsibilities to the city. Rose had tried to comfort her, but she only took out her pain on Rose more.

The luggage had been loaded and they found themselves in the same cabin for the trip home. Now that time alone together was short, they wanted to fill it with everything they could. They ate in the cabin, they danced in the cabin, played cards, read books. They had long philosophical debates and quiet personal discussions.

The transport company entertainment at the stop next evening was an old-fashioned drive-in movie with a four-story screen and snack bar. They had reproduction 1950's autos permanently parked around the screen with state-of-the-art sound systems. The film was Casablanca with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Buckets of popcorn and soda were handed out along with several kinds of vintage candy bars, pillows and blankets.

Rose and her Time Lord snuggled together. Enjoying the movie under a blanket in the massive front seat of a '57, Turquoise, Chevy Bel Air. He noticed several couples going into the back seat and tried to convince Rose. "Come on", he winked, "It's a once in a lifetime opportunity." Rose grinned and munched on a kernel of popcorn. "Oh, Like I've never snogged at the movies."

His look was pure wickedness, "Maybe, but not in the back of a classic car. That seat is the size of our bed in the cabin. We could do a lot more than just snogg." Her eyes grew wide and she threw popcorn at him. "You devil. What if we get caught?" "Caught by who? Look around you! Those cars aren't rocking because the springs are broken, and no one is bothering them."

Rose raised her head and watched the half dozen cars in the lot bobbing undisturbed. "Come on, I dare you. I double dare you." Rose's heart was racing, knew mischief when she saw it, and this was a perfect opportunity. She snickered, nodded her head and they got in back. The song, As Time Goes By, now had very special memories attached to it. Rose would often have the Tardis play it for her when they got back.

The last day of the trip. They would be coming into the station by evening. She was looking out the window as he came out of the shower. He had taken so many mental snapshots of her. With the landscape speeding past and the sun in her hair, he created a new one.

They had run out of topics to talk about, but the silence in each other's company was wonderful too. Just feeling each other's unedited emotions. He dressed and sat behind her, wrapping his arms around her as she leaned into him. "This was our best adventure ever, don't you think?" He purred into her ear. "Just, fun and love and us. No life and death decisions, no casualties, no explosions. And the only running we did was to get to the room." He chewed gently on her ear as he said it. She stretched and heaved a very contented sigh. "I've been alone, and missed you so much lately husband. This trip has been wonderful. Maybe we could make a tradition of it?" She looked up at him and smiled. He looked down at her, his love radiating like the sun. "Sounds like a great idea."

It was time to get out of the cabin for a while. The Do Not Disturb sign had kept the housekeeping staff at bay. They were out of towels and the bed needed to be made and a good vacuum to remove the sand she had dumped from her pockets and shoes. They went to the observation car and sat in the sun watching the vegetation change from desert to plains to forests and rivers. They were sad to see the lights of small towns come closer together as they came nearer to home.

Rose had most of their things packed and took one last look around the room and under the bed to be sure. The transport stopped at the station and it was over. They sighed as they left the platform.

Chapter 51 Going Home